Kevin Braniff hits double as Ports beat Ballymena Utd

KEVIN Braniff’s second half double earned Portadown a Danske Bank Premiership win at the Showgrounds, as Ballymena United’s County Antrim Shield hangover continued.

Ballymena took an eighth minute lead when Tony Kane’s cross from the right was headed home by Chris Rodgers via the underside of the crossbar – the defender’s first senior goal for his hometown club.

Portadown almost produced an instant response when Darren Murray’s header from Ross Redman’s cross was acrobatically turned over by United keeper Stuart Addis.

The visitors levelled five minutes after the restart when Joe McNeill teed up Kevin Braniff who fired a scorcher into the top corner.

David Cushley forced David Miskelly to beat away a shot before the visitors took the lead on 61 minutes, Braniff sliding in to meet Chris Casement’s right-wing cross on the volley.

Portadown continued to look dangerous with Darren Murray forcing Addis to push away a shot, while the closest Ballymena came to an equaliser was when Alan Davidson’s low shot was pushed behind by Miskelly.

Ballymena United: Addis, Kane, Rodgers (sub Munster 67), Stewart, Vauls, Surgenor, Jenkins, A Davidson, Cushley (sub J Davidson 66), Teggart, McCabe (sub Costello 75). Subs (not used): Black, Bingham.

Portadown: Miskelly, Casement, Ramsey, Breen, Redman, Mouncey, McCafferty, McNeill, Burns (sub Mackle 46), Murray, Braniff. Subs (not used): McArdle, Lecky, Gartland, Patton.

Referee: Hugh Carvill (Belfast).